PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Animal shelters in the Valley are grappling with overcrowding, prompting many to offer free adoption specials to encourage pet adoptions. Arizona’s Family investigates why these shelters are currently so full and what steps are being taken to address the crisis.

Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL)

The Arizona Animal Welfare League is currently caring for about 400 animals, including those in shelters and foster homes. AAWL President and CEO Alessandra Navidad highlights a rise in owner surrenders and longer adoption times for larger and medium-sized dogs. There is also an uptick in cat intakes due to limited organizations accepting strays. Additionally, behavior concerns and access to affordable veterinary care are contributing to capacity issues.

“Even though we are four years post-COVID, people are still struggling,” Navidad said. “People say the economy is doing well, but for the average person, higher costs in food and housing are still problematic.”

Navidad explained that housing issues force families to move in together, leading to pet behavior problems and subsequent surrenders. AAWL’s surveys reveal that basic vet care is the greatest need among pet owners. In response, AAWL is changing its post-adoption follow-up process, checking in with families for a year to address any issues and ensure the well-being of the pets.

“We used to send a single follow-up email, but now we proactively call and check in with adopters regularly for a year after adoption,” Navidad said. This change aims to provide ongoing support and reduce the likelihood of pets being returned due to manageable issues.

On a positive note, Navidad reported an increase in cat adoptions, possibly because cats are often easier and less expensive to care for than dogs.

Arizona Humane Society (AHS)

The Arizona Humane Society is offering free adoptions through July 7 due to a dire situation where it reached a breaking point with over 1,600 animals in its care, the most in its 67-year history. The shelter has had to use its old Sunnyslope campus to house the overflow of dogs.

“There’s housing instability and economic instability,” said Kelsey Dickerson with AHS. “We’re seeing more animals than ever because of rising housing costs and an ongoing veterinarian shortage.”

The COVID-19 pandemic caused 3 million missed spay and neuter appointments nationwide, leading to an increase in the animal population. Rising housing costs and an ongoing veterinarian shortage have also led to more abandonments and cruelty cases. The shelter’s animal assistance team receives between 400 and 500 surrender requests each month.

Despite these challenges, a recent call for help led to a record 185 adoptions in just seven hours. However, 150 new animals were brought in the same day, underscoring the persistent problem. The shelter's website, which temporarily went down due to the high traffic, is back up with nearly 300 pets available for adoption.

Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC)

Maricopa County Animal Care and Control has been facing capacity issues for about a year. As of Thursday morning, it housed about 780 dogs, exceeding its limit of 640. Kim Powell, a spokesperson for MCACC, cited multiple reasons for the overcapacity, including stray animals without collars or microchips, making it hard to reunite them with their owners.

“It’s taking longer for dogs to get adopted, and most animals brought in are not spayed or neutered,” Powell said. “Many pet owners skipped spay and neuter appointments during the pandemic, and now shelters are dealing with the consequences.”

MCACC's average length of stay for animals has increased from nine days to 17 days. To address the issue, MCACC will offer free adoptions for dogs six months or older from July 3 to July 31, thanks to the Bissell Pet Foundation.

Challenges and Solutions

All the shelters are offering various programs to assist with vet care, housing, behavioral concerns, and more. AAWL is working with the Arizona Pet Project to help owners keep their pets and offers a Saturday clinic with low-cost veterinary care.

The Arizona Humane Society collaborates with Pet Housing Help AZ and guarantees that adopted pets can be returned if they are not a good fit. They also provide low-cost veterinary care options.

MCACC is providing free microchips through the end of the year to help reunite lost pets with their owners and emphasizes the importance of spaying and neutering pets to reduce roaming and future stray populations. They also have diversion navigators to help pet owners considering surrendering their pets.

Kim Powell urged pet owners to be responsible by ensuring their dogs are licensed, vaccinated, and microchipped. She also stressed the importance of spaying and neutering pets to prevent them from roaming in search of a mate, which contributes to the stray population.

“The best thing you can do to help the shelter is to be a responsible pet owner,” Powell said. “Make sure your pet is spayed or neutered, has a county license, and is up to date on vaccinations and microchipped.”

The Animal Defense League of Arizona offers low-cost spay and neuter clinics to make this procedure more accessible.

Community Involvement and Future Steps

As Valley animal shelters continue to face these challenges, community support and responsible pet ownership are crucial in alleviating the overcrowding crisis and ensuring that all animals find loving homes.

Many service providers from Arizona are scheduled to attend the National Alliance on Ending Homelessness conference on July 10. They plan to meet with state representatives in Washington, D.C., to discuss the implications of the Supreme Court ruling and to advocate for policies that do not criminalize homelessness.

The collaboration between local shelters, community members, and national organizations is vital in creating sustainable solutions for the ongoing animal homelessness crisis. By working together, they aim to address the root causes and provide better support for both pets and their owners.

How to Help

- Adopt a Pet: Consider adopting a pet from a local shelter.

- Foster Animals: Provide temporary homes for pets in need.

- Volunteer: Offer your time and skills to help local shelters.

- Donate: Contribute financially or with supplies to support shelter operations.

- Advocate: Raise awareness about responsible pet ownership and support policies that help reduce pet homelessness.

By taking these actions, the community can make a significant impact in supporting Valley animal shelters and ensuring that every pet has a chance for a loving home.